Santeria

“I sacrificed a calf when I was 5 years old,” freshman exploratory major Diego Gray says in a strong Spanish accent.

Sacrifices practiced in the Santeria religion, of which Gray is an active member, usually include chickens, doves and calves. The blood is offered as a gift of life to the Orishas, or guardians. Gray is from New York City but was born in cuba.

Santeria is a combination of Yoruba, or African, beliefs from Southern Nigeria and Roman Catholicism. Santerians believe in one god, Obatala, who created all the Orishas.

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This religion’s history lies in the slave trade. Yoruba natives were forced into slavery and sent to the Caribbean. Upon arrival, they often were baptized into the Catholic Church. Practicing their native religion was forbidden. To keep their Yoruban faith alive, each Orisha was identified with a corresponding Christian saint.

The religion is not based on one specific text.

“Everything is oral. Nothing has changed since the beginning,” Gray says.

Members of the religion are initiated when their personal Orisha possesses them during drum beating at Bembes, or celebrations. Each Orisha has a specific drumbeat.

“You do not remember when you are possessed, but it happens through the drums,” Gray says.

Chango possessed Gray when he was 12 years old. Chango is believed to be a great dancer, and Gray possesses this trait as well. Gray teaches Salsa lessons and is considering majoring in dance.

Gray is now a priest in the religion.

“Most priests are gay like me,” he says. “We have female spirituality in a man’s body, making us very spiritual beings.”

“I sacrificed a calf when I was 5 years old.”

Two altars are set up in Gray’s dorm room; one in honor of Chango, who represents fire, and one to Obatala, the King of all the Saints.

“Altars are important not only to give spiritual guidance, but once you have a visual, faith goes much deeper,” Gray says.

Gray says he was also born with the gift of prophecy.

“I can speak the invisible present,” he says, meaning he can see into others’ future using shells. Gray is quite secretive about what he can see.

“I’ve only been wrong once,” Gray says. “You have to be very focused when dealing with people’s feelings.”

Brianne Carlon (blcarlon@kent.edu)

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